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My husband is selling digital cameras for a living. Some of his buyers are photographers who also do nude photography. Is is permissable for him to sell cameras to such people knowing what they will be using it for?
Praise be to Allah.
It is not permissible to sell anything that will be used for haram purposes, or which one thinks will most likely be used for such purposes. This includes selling cameras to people who will use them for haram purposes. See the answer to question no. 10668 concerning the ruling on picture making. Undoubtedly selling them to people who will take nude pictures is even more haram, because Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“…but do not help one another in sin and transgression…”
[al-Maa'idah 5:2]
Undoubtedly, taking such pictures with them is one of the means of spreading evil and immorality in society; whoever sells these cameras to them is undoubtedly helping them in spreading evil, and helping others to do haram is also haram.
Selling digital cameras (which do not produce fixed images) to those who will take good pictures (beneficial pictures), such as Islamic lectures and khutbahs, or permissible things such as trees, rivers and natural scenes, is OK. Every Muslim businessman has to fear Allah and be sincere towards his Muslim brothers, and he should not sell anything except that which is good for them and will benefit them. He should keep away from that which is evil and harmful to them. The things that are halaal are sufficient so there is no need for anything that is haram. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty).
And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine
[al-Talaaq 65:2-3]
And Allah knows best.